Full review IMAC 27 5K. IMAC - specifications. IMAC and Environment

Today, in the era of developed high technologies, a separate product is very difficult to stand out among others, but IMAC Retina 5K easily copes with this task. To see such an incredible number of pixels, which simply does not fit in the head - only this fact varies many users from the Apple official website to the order page. You can create a good and even successful product by selecting components available from suppliers, but if you want to get out of others, and not just compete with them, you need to create your own components for your "special recipe". Therefore, Apple, the charter wait, when 5k-displays appear, creates them independently and using the IMAC design already familiar to us, turns them into something incredible.

Design and stuff

iMAC The magnificent monoblock and Apple did not change anything in the design formula that was used in the latest model. As soon as noticeable 5mm edges go into the mass-thickened housing, which we see, just look at the back panel. It still remains unsurpassed by the quality of materials, the elegance of the design and care of the manufacture, without having equal among the PC.

The elegance of the design did not move all the ports and the IMAC connectors to the rear panel. As before, we have convenient access to headphones, an SD slot, a gigabit ethernet port, four USB 3.0, but instead of two Thunderbolt, we now have two Thunderbolt 2.

In fact, the connection of any periphery requires you to pairs of movements, even for 27 'imac, because it is almost an intention on its minimalistic stand and move it on your desktop simple enough. The power button is also hidden on the back of the aesthetics reasons, but its characteristic concave surface is very easy to find on the touch.

Dual microphones and FaceTime HD camera are located above the screen, while 20-watt stereo speakers are under it. Despite their focus, they are surprised by a sufficient number of low frequencies and may well voice your workspace.

As with the case with non-Retina iMac, there is a version without a stand with VESA-compatible wall mount. So you can do without a stand and get imac securing on your wall. Both IMAC continue the tradition of the impossibility of the user upgrade and allow you to replace only the RAM, the slots of which are hidden under a small panel hiding behind the foot stand.

Display

If you have previously dealt with aimaki, then many IMAC Retina 5K details will seem familiar to you, but these sensations will end, as soon as you enable it and face to face will come across a stunning desktop that you have ever seen in computers.

I no longer remember how incredible there were sensations after switching from the screen with a common resolution on Retina, but from IMAC 5K you will accurately captivate your breath. It shows the most smallest details, and the colors are stunningly natural. White color Very clean, without any shades, and black is ink and very homogeneous.

Nothing is easy. When you need to process 14.7 million pixels - 5k is not perceived as a great difference from 4k, but in fact, the last only 8.8 million pixels, and Full HD has a pitiful 2 million - you can't just take ready-made components from the shelf and use them.

Instead, Apple had to create multiple key parts from scratch. A good example - Timing Controller (TCON), which is responsible for synchronizing signals from two DisplayPort 1.2 tires to allow bandwidth to 40 Gb / s. A higher pixel density causes the need for efficient backlight and Apple goes to highly efficient LEDs that not only provide a sufficient amount of light, but also reduce energy consumption by 30%.

Thanks to Oxide TFT, one of the layers of the display also increases its energy efficiency in comparison with previous generations of panels. In a pair with a new compensation film, this increases the viewing angles and significantly reduces the color inversion and contrast.

To improve the work of the IMAC Retina 5K display, Apple borrowed several tricks in the iPad. First of all, this is an organic passivation (Organic Passivation) that helps to avoid signal interference and tie from tightly packaged pixels. However, 217 ppi is less than 264 PPI in iPad Air 2 and 220 PPI in 15-inch MacBook Pro. Retina.

This is associated with distances under which we look at the device screens. W. new imac Retina 5K The smaller pixel density of all Retina displays, but since you usually work for it with a much larger distance than in the iPad and MacBook Pro, the end result is the same - the picture is so clear that you cannot distinguish individual display pixels.

As in MacBook Pro Retina.We have several options to configure the resolution. You can work in native resolution 5120x2880 or select one of the scaling modes in which the windows and applications will be the same size as on ordinary iMac, but will be displayed more clearly.

Most of the interface elements can be too tiny in native resolution, but all those pixels give a huge advantage with certain use scenarios. For example, photo editing is much easier when you can display the source file in full resolution, without having to adjust the scale whenever you need to consider any part.

But in all its glory IMAC Retina 5K manifests itself in working with video. Running Final Cut Pro You can see previews in full resolution for 4K video and you still have a place to place the controls from the edges of the screen. Nothing overlaps and you do not need to move various items to see them - everything is in sight.

In short, the IMAC Retina 5K display in many respects is ahead of its time and in this, in fact, there is both advantages and some compromises.

The largest of them is the lack of Target Display mode, which was available on previous models and allowed to use IMAC as an external display by connecting MacBook or Mac Mini to it. Unfortunately, even despite the fact that Thunderbolt 2 has a significantly greater bandwidth than its predecessor, it is still not enough to transmit 5K signal from another computer. Apparently you will have to wait for Thunderbolt 3, and at the same time, now there are no means to scale the signal from sources with a lower resolution.

For the same reason, even if you could connect a source with a 5K signal, you could not turn on the display of another 5k-display and use them in the bundle. Connecting external displays is available in resolution up to 3840x2160, but you will have only one 5K panel.

Specifications and performance

One of the things we expected to see in new iMac were processors, but Apple stuck on the fourth generation Intel Haswell, which can be found in existing models. The younger model of the IMAC Retina 5K is equipped with a Core i5 quad-core processor with a frequency of 3.5 GHz, which, if desired, can be replaced by Core I7 4.0 GHz, paying 250 $.

Now 8 gigabytes of memory is standard. It can be increased to 16 and 32 GB for $ 200 and $ 600, respectively. As for the hard disk, then in all iMac Retina 5K is established Fusion Drive. On 1 TB, which is a conventional hard disk, combined with SSD for frequently used files and applications, which is a speed balance and volume.

For an additional $ 150, you can equip your IMAC to the Fusion Drive disk for 3 TB or without any additional charges to choose SSD to 256 GB instead.

From the moment of the first rumors about IMAC Retina, there were disputes about what video card will be charged with such a number of pixels. In the minimum configuration of iMac Retina 5K, the Radeon R9 M290X graph with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory, which for $ 250 can be replaced by the R9 M295X C by twice the amount of memory.

Like other components, these are mobile video cards, which caused some disputes about whether they will cope with the processing of resolution 5120x2880. Fortunately, for the most part, these fears and speculation turned out to be unreasonable.

Working with multiple applications and video playback is given iMac Retina 5K with ease. Adding different effects to the Final Cut Pro project in real time also did not cause any difficulties. However, in comparison with the Mac Pro, the Opports of the final video file, expected, took more time (and it was the only case when it was possible to hear the grinding coolers of the IMAC, the sound of which in the usual situation resembles a hoarse whisper).

Outside OS X Yosemite and standard applications Apple can be encountered with different roughness. It can be seen that some third-party applications are still not ready to resolve 5k. In third-party browsers, you can sometimes watch small twitchings that are missing on the same sites in Safari.

Conclusion

No doubt, now there is a lack of publicly available content that satisfies the resolution of IMAC Retina 5K. The usual 27-inch iMac can safely work with 1080p content, which is not enough for Retina. In iTunes, there is still no video in the resolution of 4K and the only streaming service that offers movies and serials in it is Netflix.

And yet, this computer is not designed to consume content (at least it is only a side function) - it is ideal for its creation. This is a tool for people who create Ultra HD video or process images with incredible resolution - content that ultimately bow the scales in favor of Retina displays.

With the initial price of $ 2500 IMAC Retina 5k only $ 500 cheaper than the younger Mac Pro model. Of these two, Mac Pro is undoubtedly more powerful, but on the other hand, you should also take into account the purchase price of a separate monitor. Selecting the IMAC you get a professional display with a computer, which emphasized Apple, at the presentation of the new flagship.

The new IMAC Retina 5K took a niche between the top IMAC of the previous generation and the initial Mac Pro. Its screen has no analogues not only in the line of products Apple, but also among the displays, and this state of affairs will persist a certain time. At the same time, it does not require additional financial investments for organizing a workplace, unlike Mac Pro.

In general, this is a combination of desires and needs that we have already seen in Apple products before. Part of the users will have a real need for the resolution of Retina, the other part will simply want to get it just because it is possible. In conjunction with exclusivity 5k, and despite the fact that competitors, no doubt, will soon show their analogues, IMAC Retina 5K is an excellent solution that combines elegance, productivity and innovation.

For almost 4 years, I worked on a 15-inch MacBook Pro: creating music, installing clips, retouching photos, writing articles.

I liked everything in it, the souls did not care. In addition to one: it was a laptop.

99.9% of his life he spent on my desk, being connected to the adapter, and was used as a desktop.

Yes, I was mistaken with the choice. I needed IMAC. Promised not to look aside new MacBook Pro C Tachbar and ordered this handsome:

Meet the new 27-inch iMac 5K 2017

Huge, powerful, with a bombing display and the ability to upgrade.

iMAC in a thin case came out at the end of 2012. Since then, the design has not changed. I waited for a cardinal update this summer, but this did not happen. Even absolutely new IMAC Pro in the same case, only in Space Gray color.

Or did it happen? Let's compare it with a similar model 2015:

Benefits IMAC 5K 2017 over Imac 5K 2015

1. Thunderbolt 2 - all. Now the ball rules the connector with a distant and bright future: two multifunctional USB-C with support for Thunderbolt 3. Speed \u200b\u200bhas increased 2 times - to a mad 40 Gbit / s.

New devices and accessories with USB-C will connect to it without adapters.

2. Updated display performed by new technology. 10-bit dystering is supported, a billion colors are displayed. And most importantly: brighter one and a half times. No glare.

3. Up to 50% faster SSD (including Fusion Drive), switched to PCI-E 3.0 standard. The SSD configuration is supported up to 2 TB.

4. Fusion Drive is installed in all basic configurations.

5. New 7th generation processors with increased frequencies in all modes. Supported hardware decoding of 10-bit HEVC video.

6. Maximum volume random access memory increased by 2 times: 64 GB. But the most important thing is the new DDR4 strips (against DDR3 in the previous generation). The frequency increased to 2400 MHz (against 2133 MHz).

7. More productive graphics (up to 5.5 Teraflops) with a maximum volume of video memory of 8 GB (against 4 GB earlier).

Nice such list turned out? :)

Mmm, add a renewed housing here ... Although, wait. Is this important for a monoblock? With honored years and tested time design, which is relevant today?

I do not like to apply the word "perfect", for the ideal nothing happens. But, yes: this case, damn it, ideal.

In addition, the Magic Keyboard 2 rented in 2015 gives the computer a certain novelty that you feel with each interaction.

The keyboard is very comfortable. On the new MacBook Pro, the keys are literally indulge in the body and are almost on the same level with it, here they are slightly raised.

Say - Large Frames. There is such. Only if on smartphones you need to strive to get rid of each millimeter in favor of their compactness, it is not fundamentally on the monoblock. I even like it: the black frames visually cut off the content from everything that is behind the housing.

Outcome: For me, these innovations are a big leap for the IMAC line. Not huge, but big. There is no sense to wait for something completely new, no one is in a hurry to update the design. This confirms the Presentation of IMAC Pro in the same building that has not even been on sale.

And also - a new, more subtle and compact building undoubtedly "manned" would be on the price tag. Now the Russian resellers price the iMac is quite adequate.

The model is sought up. Now it's time to talk in detail about it a month of work and testing.

Display. He's great

It is very big. So much that for comfortable work, applications are enough to occupy only 40-50% of its space.

So, use a multi-color mode - solid pleasure. You work immediately in two programs and do not feel some kind of pressure. I, like many, strains only the implementation of the SPLIT VIEW mode in MacOS. I am sure that Apple knows and rethink in the following updates.

The standard resolution of 5120 x 2880 can be increased to 6400 x 3600 points, and there will be more space even more. True, the fonts will be very small and slightly blurred.

In the monitor settings, you can select a SRGB profile to reveal the entire potential of extended color coverage. The picture becomes very juicy, while everything looks natural. For work, the profile is not suitable, just the game of muscles.

The backlight is about-o-very bright. At the maximum parameters blind eyes. About glare and other problems because daylight You can forget.

What is missing?

After iPad Pr. 2017 with the Promotion display (screen update frequency 120 Hz against 60 Hz earlier) all other displays, even the iPhone, seem like somehow braked.

120 Hz is super smooth movements on the screen. To understand my sensations, you can recall the difference between 30 frames / s and 60 frames / s.

Today, Apple products only new iPad support this technology. Mac did not deliver. And sorry, move the lists across the screen and flipping lists would be more pleasant. If you have ever seen new iPad, you will understand me. :)

Update: A month later use new iPad. I can say that the eyes have become accustomed to this smoothness and almost do not notice her. Those. I do not feel any discomfort when working with other displays, as it was in the first days after buying a tablet.

Outcome

IMAC 2017 installed best 5k display on the market. The brightness and number of the displayed colors is significantly superior to the recently released for $ 1,300. The price is relevant only in the states, we are much more expensive.

SSD and Fusion Drive

I chose the top basic bundle with 2 TB Fusion Drive. It comes with 128 GB PCIE SSD and with a hard disk of 2 TB.

Models with 1 TB Fusion Drive are equipped with 32 GB SSD, for super-resource-intensive tasks it may not be enough.

The question is brewing: does it make sense to overpay and wait for custom iMac configuration with more capacious SSD, but without a hard disk?
 

⚔️ Fusion Drive against SSD:

Let's compare the speed of reading and writing from IMAC with 2 TB Fusion Drive and IMAC with 1 TB SSD.

iMAC 5K 2017, 2 TB Fusion DRIVE:

iMAC 5K 2017, 1 TB SSD:

As we see, there is no difference in the speed of reading. Only a minor dough error. Recording - yes, the model with 1 TB SSD is much faster due to the larger volume.

But you need to understand two things: first, the priority value (but not the main thing) has exactly the speed of reading, which is identical to them (starting the system, programs, opening files and projects), secondly, recording speed is 800 MB / s more than Good indicator.

The last argument:

2 TB Fusion Drive - $ 0 (the price is included in the configuration cost)
2 TB SSD - plus $ 1400. For Russia, add another 30%. About 115,000 rubles. To the cost of the computer.

Yes, there is nothing to argue here, on the performance of 2 TB SSDs, 2 TB Fusion Drive is on. But if the tasks are not super-serious, the difference will not be fundamental and is very noticeable. Sometimes it will not be tangible and at all (the speed of running system, programs, navigation in the system, work in most applications and so on).

Let's now look at the hard disk that comes with Fusion Drive.

HDD:

27-inch IMAC, unlike younger models, comes with a shock hard disk for 7200 revolutions per minute.

Their development also does not stand still. Probably. :)

This is far from SSD, which every year receive a tangible performance increase. But the test results please:

206 MB / sec Reading! Like an old SSD.

In practice, high performance is very felt. Previously, my Logic Pro tools were located on an external 5200 rpm hard disk connected via USB 3.0. Now I transferred them to the IMAC hard disk. The start speed increased by 2-3 times, the response is almost instant.

Outcome:

For excellent performance in professional tasks, 2 TB Fusion Drive will be enough. There are additional tips on increasing the speed of Fusion Drive.

If IMAC is needed for office tasks, work in Photoshop, GarageBand, small projects in Logic and Final Cut - can be brought around to the model with 1 TB Fusion DRIVE. Today, the officers are sold in just 131 990 rubles. In this case, the system and applications will start instantly.

Processors

I will not give this partition a large number of text, because the detailed tests of processors and graphic Systems If necessary, can be found on specialized resources. I will provide only the necessary minimum.

Everything is simple here: the more expensive equipment, the more powerful processors and graphics. Let's try to decide on the choice.

There are three IMAC 5K 2017 configurations:

1.  Intel Core i5 3.4 GHz + Radeon Pro 570 with 4 GB video memory
2. Intel Core i5 3.5 GHz + Radeon Pro 575 with 4 GB of Video
3. Intel Core i5 3.8 GHz + Radeon Pro 580 with 8 GB video memory

... and custom modification with i7:

Intel Core i7 4.2 GHz + Radeon Pro 570/575/580
 

What processor to choose?

Let's look at the results of the popular test GEEKBENCH 4:

All I5 lineup processors plus-minus are the same. Slightly lags out of I5 3.4 GHz, but the result is also good. I7 in terms of performance breaks forward, the difference with the top i5 is obvious.

So:

i5 3.4 GHz - a fairly powerful processor according to modern standards. Will cope with all the tasks.
I5 3.5 GHz - to work on heavier projects.
I5 3.8 GHz - as I5 3.5 GHz, only overclocked.
I7 4.2 GHz - sparkle everyone and fly into space.

Again, if a more detailed assessment is fundamentally, I recommend reading the reviewers directly to read the reviews.
 

Graphics

Graphic performance is now fashionable to demonstrate in Teraflops.

Flops - an out of system unit used to measure computer performance, showing how many floating-point operations per second performs this computing system.
(Wikipedia)

For example:

PlayStation 4 - 1,8 Teraflops;
PlayStation 4 Pro (4K) - 4,2 Teraflops;
Xbox One X (new, 4k) - 6 Teraflops;

GeForce GTX 960 - 2,4 Teraflops;
GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB - 4,4 Teraflops;
GeForce GTX 1070 - 6,5 Teraflops;
GeForce GTX 1080 - 9 Teraflops.

New iMac 5K:

Radeon Pro 570 with 4 GB: 3,6 Teraflops;
Radeon Pro 575 with 4 GB: 4,5 Teraflops;
Radeon Pro 580 with 8 GB: 5,5 Teraflops.

According to the standards of 2017, the indicators are very worthy, especially in 580 and 575. If you are going to play modern games through Bootcamp, I would advise these models.

IMAC test results with Radeon Pro 580, resolution 2560x1440:

But even the youngest 570th stretches 60 frames / s in GTA V with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 on "maxima", so many will be more than enough.

It is important to understand that these graphic maps Executed and created primarily to work with graphics in professional software and closely integrated into MacOS. And NVIDIA cards will show themselves better in Windows games.

FROM macos High Sierra Apple introduced a new Metal graphics engine 2. If the game makers are podnapped and start producing content natively under MacOS, we are waiting for a noticeable boost performance. And if earlier with gaming on Mac, everything was bad, now a certain increase in attention from Apple and developers is traced.

What is the capabilities of the upgrade, did you mention at the beginning of the article?

The list is shown below. But the main thought is at the very end.
 

RAM

Unambiguously need to take a configuration with 8 GB of memory. For everything else - wild overpayment. Apple's branded planks are at times more expensive in similar characteristics.

Additional memory can be installed by it by opening the cap from the back. The user warranty does not lose. Turn off the power, click on the button, the cap pops up.

I trust Kingston Planks, on the official website you can find a 100% compatible model specifically for your IMAC. Not advertising.
 

PCI-E SSD

According to the IFIXIT report, the SSD bar is not soldered to the motherboard. So, theoretically, they can be replaced with more capacious. Not studied the lineup From third-party manufacturers, perhaps at the moment there are not yet and they will appear in the future. Or will not appear. You need to wait and watch.
 

HDD

Need a more capacious hard disk? We replace standard. If you wish, you can install SATA SSD to store various libraries instead. Or generally collect Fusion Drive based on super fast PCI-E SSD and capacious SATA SSD and get the evil rocket. In general, there are many options.
 

CPU

Yes, it can also be replaced. On i7, for example. Or, perhaps, even sharper, which will appear later. Subject to compatibility. In addition, after a couple of years they will cover prices.

But the main question ...

Why and when to do upgrade?

Disassemble iMac - it does not unscrew a pair of cogs and pull the cover with system Block PC. The process is time consuming, and requires certain tools and skills.

To think about the upgrade only when it comes to clean your iMac from dust and replace the thermal paste. But at the same time, it is possible to update its components, because the case is still open.

When will this moment come? Depends on the specific conditions of use and mode of operation. Maybe after 2 years, maybe after 5. If IMAC began to make noise and coolers accelerate more often and stronger, it is a sure sign of the need for it. Also in a couple of years in conditions of high loads, a hard disk can notice.

Outcome and my thoughts

iMAC Sample 2017 - completely honed and brought to mind decision. Apple did not remove the standard USB connectors and slots, as did with the MacBook Pro line (for which heap portions to this day receives), and replaced so and not received Thunderbolt 2 to more versatile and powerful USB-C with Thunderbolt 3. The result - there is no need to buy adapters and no one, everything works directly from the box.

Buy today or wait for a global update? I am for the first option. From the point of view of technology, new iMac received the most relevant and appropriate iron and 2018. And switched to the memory of DDR4, many of this were waiting.

Yes, the design was not updated from the end of 2012, but there are advantages in it: the body is honed to perfection, and prices are not overestimated. I consider new iMac better in terms of price and opportunity ratio.

And you need to remember: we pay not only for iron, but also for one of the most perfect 5k displays. The monitor with similar and even less relevant characteristics from third-party manufacturers can cost more than one IMAC.

Plus Magic Keyboard 2 and Mouse 2 in the kit. And the Lightning cable for their charging, which will not clearly be superfluous in the home arsenal (a trifle, but a pleasant bonus).

Just a couple of years ago, the "apple" company surprised the computer market in that he submitted to the public to the public its first device with the Retina-screen. To date, several generations of MacBookPro have time to change, which were equipped with the displays of the highest possible permit, well, and to Monoblocks, the company was reached only last year.

The iMac series has always attracted users to its appearance and filling: a wide screen, stylish and attractive design, excellent performance - all this makes an excellent tool to work from the device in any sphere. Almost all companies of the company are universal products, therefore the range of technology will allow you to realize your potential to any specialist and an amateur.

No wonder there was such an idea that the best video Mounted on Mas, intelligent photographers use mas, designers and other people with rich and non-standard imagination use Apple gadgets. What do not say, and it is fashionable, expensive and beautiful, and at the same time it is possible to rank at a narrow circle of admirers of exclusive technique. Although, judging by independent statistics, not so narrow: Even despite the reduction in the total volume of sales of personal computers, it is the "apple" company demonstrates if not confident, then clearly positive sales growth.

Positioning model

In the course of the presentations of Apple IMAC 27 "Retina 5k, the company paid an increased attention to those who consider the priority representative to his audience. Photo processing and complex video editing will become much more pleasant, and at the same time productive when using the new device from Apple.

IMAC 27 "Retina 5K quite quickly reached Russian markets. Now you do not need to wait for a long week or even months to try out an interesting novelty in business. Let us try to figure out what exactly the company is offered in the face of such a high-tech device, because the screen with such a big resolution is very difficult. We will estimate the advantages of a new model above the predecessors and wonder specifications IMAC 27 "Retina 5K. Reviews about the device are very positive, so you can appreciate the work of the device in general terms, and specific merits or disadvantages will be listed below.

So, the hero of today's review is the new IMAC monoblock from Apple. Let's try to designate all the strong and weak sides Models, taking into account the opinions of specialists and reviews of simple users.

Specifications

For performance in the monoblock, the 4-nuclear processor from Intel's Core i5 series of 3.5 GHz is responsible with the possibility of overclocking to 3.9 GHz. On board there is a RAM in the amount of 8 GB of type DDR3, with a frequency of 1600 MHz (the basic equipment is equipped with two 4 GB placters). Winchester - 1 TB type Fusion Drive (main volume under HDD, the rest of the accelerated SSD space). AMD Graphic Video Scorer R9 M290X with 2 GB fast memory Type GDDR5.

The screen is 27 '', with a resolution of 5120x2880 points, an IPS matrix with a glossy coating. Communication is provided with wireless protocols "Wi-Fi" 802.11ac and Bluetooth fourth version. Connection interfaces - 4 x yusb 3.0, RJ-45 Internet port, two Thunderbolt 2 connectors, 3.5 mm microphone, SD slot and mini-port. The dimensions are 516 by 650 mm with a weight of 10 kg.

Design

The general view of the monoblock itself remained unchanged since 2012. Someone can and condemn such a company approach, but, on the other hand, why change what makes the eye and to this day: the torn lines, beautiful forms and elegant outlines create an image if not the most attractive monoblock, then one of the most stylish For sure.

imac 27 With the Retina 5K display, you will probably enjoy the aesthetes that are not used to clogging your desktop with a bunch of wires, connections and just love high-quality equipment. The company notes that the new monoblock is the most subtle today, and the thickness of the device is only 5 mm (sidewalls).

Assembly

It holds on the surface of the monoblock due to the durable aluminum leg, which is easily adjustable through the corner of the review, but change the height, alas, will not work. The display is framed by a glossy frame in the black execution of a rather impressive size, under which you can see the company's company logo.

The housing itself is made entirely of aluminum, and the appearance of Apple IMAC Retina 5K inspires confidence, it is simply pleasant to look at it, and it doesn't matter from which side. The weight of the monoblock remained the same and, if desired, it is possible to take it in the nearby travel around the house or the office - he is not very heavy.

Screen

Monoblock, as in the case of previous generations, can be executed with diagonals in 21 and 27, but in order to feel the full full and depth of a new model, it is better to use the flagship version in the face of IMAC 27 "Retina 5K. User reviews about quality This screen is quite a positive character, so we will consider it.

Retina is a rare representative of a similar class device, and if it was previously a good resolution was considered to be 2560 per 1440 pixels, then it increased four times with a new screen and is 5120 per 2880 pixels. Accordingly, the pixel density also increased and now, instead of 106 PPI, has become 218 ppi.

Look at the new iMac with the Retina 5K display, it is impossible for a long time, simply admiring the intensive paints and the submitted image. The badges remained the same, not at all decreased in size, just a picture became more clear due to a very high display of the display.

By the way, it is worth noting that the company conducted independent research and proved: a new screen consumes energy by 30% less than the devices of previous generations. There were no complaints on the side of the particles of any complaints from the user, so this pleasant fact of reducing power consumption can be attributed to the virtues of the advantages of IMAC Retina 5k.

The monoblock review showed that the company once proves a very scrupulous attitude to the quality of the image of its monitors. Since the IPS matrix in liquid crystal technologies is no longer dispersed above the limit, and the factory settings are considered to be a standard benchmark, the company decided to improve the only parameter that agrees - permissions. Instead of the usual Quad HD scan of the monoblock received a total 5k resolution at 5120x2880 points with an appropriate increase in pixel density. Such parameters are comparable to smartphone screens, while before us without a small 27-inch apparatus.

An innovation for Apple IMAC 27 "Retina 5K is especially noticeable while working with the main table, since its capacity has greatly increased, which immediately affected the performance of such graphic and video applications as Final Cut. File processing from ultra-HD in 2160p has become much more convenient, as all 100% frame are displayed, plus there is enough space for the location of the tools and other useful applications.

Imac 27 "screen" Retina 5K has a very enviable brightness stock - about 450 kD / m 2, which is quite enough to work in the brightest and sunny day. In the usual room, the brightness of the screen can be safely set to an indicator of 50% (if not lower), and the contrast, even with such settings, does not fall to the minimum level - about 1200 K 1 (some ceiling for IPS matrix).

Thanks to the excellently balanced anti-reflective, the image is supplied in all depth and has a very convincing view. The viewing angles at IMAC Retina 5k deserve all sorts of praise, they are wide as possible and or video together with friends will be only joy.

Scope of application

Factory settings can offer the owner of a flawless color balance and calibration with excellent accuracy, so something to adjust or correct simply do not need - sat down and work. It approached almost close to the SRGB standard, which is a very big plus for a simple consumer, but some professionals sometimes complain that the display cannot cover Adobe RGB and DCI P3, and together in them and the REC standard, but it is already So specific requests that in a wide piggy bank of the minuses to write them difficult.

The total brightness characteristics of IMAC 27 "Retina 5K can be considered a reference for an IPS matrix, and the color rendition is also at all the peak of the monitor capabilities. So it is possible to say with full confidence that the new monoblock screen is a great starting point for working with video and photographic materials. And if professional figures can still be doubtful in working with Ultra HD, the simple owners of the device must be delighted with a natural and truly beautiful image on a 27-inch monoblock with twin clarity.

Performance

Apple IMAC 27 "Retina 5K in the basic configuration is equipped with a four-core processor from the" Intel "series Core i5 with a clock frequency of 3.5 GHz and the ability to overclock the" Turbo Booth "mode to 3.9 GHz. There is 8 GB of RAM on board a variety of DDR3 with a frequency of 1600 MHz, and if there is a need or just desire, then it can be increased to 32 GB.

Winchester Fusion Drive is provided for storage and working with data in the monoblock. HDD It has two partitions - one ordinary HDD, and the other - high-speed SSD. Basic equipment provides hard drive per TB, but you can choose a more expensive option, with 3 TB of memory (0.512 / 1 TB under SSD).

As a graphic video screen, the company equipped IMAC Retina 5K by the decision from AMD represented by Radona R9 290mx with one gigabyte of memory. Variable versions can be equipped with a similar series M295x, but already with four GB and high-speed memory Type GDDR5.

It is important to remember possessors and future owners of IMAC Retina 5K that the upgrade is almost excluded on its own. The only thing that "allowed" to increase the company in the monoblock is the RAM, everything else will remain for the same and the improvement is not subject to.

The device in practice easily copes with any tasks in such a demanding program as processing a very solid amount of data without any brakes and friezes. The same indicators are different and working with the most powerful Lightroom photo editor, where the processing of libraries with the RAW format passes immaculately.

The new iMac Retina 5K is very, very fast monoblock. When comparing with the closest competitors, it turned out that when mounting the same roller in a resolution supporting 4K, the speed of the Apple device is higher than the rest - minute and 14 seconds against almost 10-minute processing with similar devices.

Those who work with video formats that support permission in 4k will probably enjoy that the image can be fully and completely displayed. In principle, the same applies to both photographers that can freely and comfortably edit their pictures made in high resolution. Professionals working with powerful graphics packages, as a rule, connect another monitor to open the window to the entire screen, and in the case of a new monoblock, such actions will be superfluous - everything is perfectly visible on one device.

Interfaces

Behind the Monoblock are four ports of the YUSB 3.0 type, two Thunderbolt 2.0, a connector for wired Internet type RJ-45, a slot for a regular CD card, and also has a connector for external headphones and an additional microphone of 3.5 mm.

Users in their reviews sometimes complain about the uncomfortable location of the ports, because of which it is constantly working with peripherals, it is necessary to buy a separate cartrider for such purposes, which will always be at hand, and there will be no problems with memory cards or flasks.

The video call is answered by a good FaceTime HD camera, working with sound with two microphones. Access to wireless protocols provides the "Wi-Fi" module at 802.11As and the Bluetooth fourth version.

Summarizing

The new monoblock, as well as its predecessors, is available in several modifications, and the option with the "ordinary" screen was also saved, so if there is no need to purchase a display of such quality, you can give a very decent amount.

The company offers a ready-made and fully configured solution, so to start work you need to simply connect the cable, and the system is ready for use. The only spoon of concert (and for some, on the contrary, stability and successful constancy), which concerns almost all the products of the "apple" company is the impossibility of upgrades. All that is available for improvement is RAM, and no more.

The device surprises with its resolution and quality of the picture, and the density of pixels per inch can compete with any mobile gadgets. Practical benefits from the new screen will certainly protect professional professionals - photoelers and video surveyors, and simple users will feel saturated with pictures in any modern games.

As for the surcharge for such high resolution, it can be called quite reasonable, especially if you compare competing models of eminent brands. Only one monitor will cost the owner of about 2 thousand euros, and this is excluding the rest of the components without which it is useless.

The average cost of IMAC Retina 5K (the price of February 2016) fluctuates within 100-180 thousand rubles and depends on the modification. The inexpensive model with a 21-inch screen and medium video card (GTX775M) costs about 90,000, and the PRO model with all the "comments" reaches the mark of 200,000.

Buy or not?

Is it worth paying such big money for a new screen? If you have the funds you can spend on a purchase, there are no minuses of such a solution, and then the quality you will receive will please you for a very long time. And although some video or photo processing professionals prefer specially customized options for their needs, a universal decision in the person of the new monoblock will certainly be seen and in demand by experts. In any case, after purchasing the IMAC, you will receive an excellent computer with excellent screen and powerful stuffing.

Pluses of the monoblock:

• stylish and original design;
• materials are only high quality from the well-known brand;
• productivity "with a stock" for several years;
• the highest screen resolution to date.

Cons devices:

• there is no possibility of connecting as the second screen;
• high price for the average buyer of computer equipment.

In the markets in the middle of 2015, an updated apple model of a monoblock appeared - 27 inch iMac with Retina 5K display. Not so much technology is produced with 4K screens, "apple" products stepped even further. You can view 4K images on the display, just on the sides will remain a bit of free space. This is a comfortable bonus to those engaged in installation, photo processing or likes to play modern computer games.

It is important to note that in 2015 the update received only a 27-inch monoblock. Appearance The box remained the same. It has an irregular shape, it is too alone, to the bottom was scrambled. The lower base has a greater steady surface. The box is easy to disassemble, pull out the product simply. Save the packaging and check, in the case of the sale or transfer of the product to another person they will not be superfluous.

Fontoam forms are firmly held by the device inside. IMAC 27 5K is placed by films, which protects it from random small damage. Protective film Removed without a trace. Equipment IMAC 27 Retina 5K: Wireless Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse , instructions, stickers and network cable Nutrition.

Appearance imac with Retina 5K display

The appearance of the device does not differ from the models released in 2012. Dimensions of the device in comparison with the predecessor did not change and make up: 51.6 (height), 65.0 (width), 20.3 cm (coast thickness). Weigh the device 9.54 kg. Communication connectors are located on the back of the housing. These include: 4 USB version 3.0 connector, Thunderbolt ports , Ethernet port , SD / SDXC Format Carder , mini-jack by 3.5 mm.

27 inch iMac with Retina 5K Display

Special attention deserves the screen resolution, which is 5120 × 2880 pixels. The screen protects the glass plate. The surface is mirror-smooth. The display is equipped with an anti-reflective filter. Bright objects located near the screen do not interfere with the perception of the image. The picture is displayed bright, clearly without "grain". The surface has a oleophobic coating, it makes it easy to remove bold stains and prevents them in appearance.

Used matrix in iMac - IPS. Used operating system X Yosemite . The screen is capable of separating the shades of color, located next to each other in the color palette. Color coverage of the matrix slightly different from SRGB . But since deviations are too small, it does not affect the display of natural saturation of colors. When IMAC is found with the Retina 5K display in the off state or in waiting mode, energy is consumed at 0.07 W. There may be bursts of energy consumption up to 2 W.

Display does not flicker. Changing the brightness affects the backlight level, but does not affect the brightness of the screen. The glow of the screen is configured over a wide range. The user sets up a glow for comfortable working conditions, both in bright lighting and with complete darkness. There is automatic adjustment of the brightness level. It is regulated by the light sensor. The sensor can change the brightness parameter, both on the increase and downgrade.

Computer can be "trained" to set the level of brightness. Choose a comfortable level of glow under certain conditions in manual mode. Automatic adjustment should be activated at the same time. Based on the specified parameters, the display brightness indicators will be displayed. The viewing angles are wide, color distortions with indirect viewing insignificant. If you wish, the color rendition can be additionally calibrated. Use the peripheral monitor with IMAC Retina 5K 27 inch Late 2015 is impossible.

OS on iMac with Reetina 5K display

The monoblock works on OS X 10.10 Yosemite. A special feature of this version of the system is a flat display of the icon type. Also appeared iCloud Drive., Spotlight The search has become better, the "Notifications" panel expanded. Now in order to use Spotlight Search The user must click on the display center. After the search displays the results, the user can view the contents of the found documents or folders.

On the right side of the screen are "notifications". There is an additional panel "Today", it will display widgets that can be added and deleted. It is convenient to have an "Calculator" application there, so it is always at hand. Through the panel you can make publications in social network, recruit and send messages through the iMessage application. Place here "weather" and always up to date when you take an umbrella.

With the appearance of an ICloud Drive, the user can not only synchronize the data, but to use a full-fledged cloud. The user receives a separate daddle, which will appear in "Finder". You can add any copies and place files here. After placing, synchronization will be performed, and the data will immediately turn out to be available from another device (if the connection is made by one account).

Positive honors, from the same Dropbox is the provision of 5 GB of free places, and not 2. The volume of five GB is used on mail materials stored by the user personal data, backups. Disadvantage of iCloud Drive. It is the lack of an application through which the user can view the cloud contents. The overall work rate of the Company is aimed at deepening communication between IOS and OS X devices. Today, the user can take a call via Apple iMac Retina 5K, directed to the iPhone. For IMAC 27 "Now there is a viewing function and sending SMS.. Maintenance can continue each other's work from the place of stop, whether it is a PC or smartphone.

The disadvantages of the call on the phone through the Apple Imac 27 "monoblock is the external noise of the room and the fact that the conversation will be heard all around. Yes, and to move away from the monoblock at this point the user will not be able to move. In the question of working with messages, the computer on the contrary is very convenient. If you write a long text, it is more convenient to do it on the big screen. If the information obtained is necessary for work, you do not have to further transfer the contents of the message to the computer.

An additional possibility of transmitting data from the device to the device appeared, called "Handoff". Translated as "Transmission". Externally, it is displayed as an additional mail or browser icon left from the rest of the icons. A small picture of the gadget will be displayed on the icon. This means that the page is open on another i-device and the user can go to the place of work, which he left on another gadget. This feature It works only inside Apple applications. Everything preset programs Systems are adapted to the level of resolution 5K and are displayed accordingly.

IMAC 5K Review - Specifications

The model is available in the basic configuration, but additionally when ordering through the official website of the Apple, the user can make an upgrade of a processor, RAM, video card and information storage. Computer processor quad-core. Apple Imac 27 Retina 5K i7 Intel Core and IMAC 27 Retina 5K i5 is available. IMAC 27 Retina 5K I5 operates on a clock frequency of 3.5 GHz, can accelerate to 3.9. Does not support hyper-threading technology. Intel Core I7 operates at a frequency of 4.0 GHz and accelerates to 4.4. The price of the second processor is 15,000 rubles more expensive. Basic configuration is equipped with IMAC 27 Retina 5K i5 Core.

Cash-drive of the 3rd level processor with a memory of 6 MB. Retail memory, the user can also choose before order. Increasing the RAM computer will increase the data processing speed, the device will work faster. Memory for IMAC 5K DDR3 may be on 8, 16 and 32 GB. The amount of memory on 16 GB will be more expensive by 12 thousand rubles, 32 GB by 36 thousand more expensive.

Eppl Drive 5K Fusion Drive Apple. The Fusion Drive drive consists of a large number of hard drives that have high flash drives. The user can select Fusion Drive Drive for 1 and 3 TB. The price tag for the second drive will be higher than 9 thousand rubles. Flash drives are also available with a capacity of 256, 512 and 1 TB. The price of the second and third drive will be 18 and 48 thousand more expensive respectively.

A processor operating with AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics. Perfectly processes a picture. To improve the quality of graphics, in addition to the basic configuration with GDDR5 in 2 GB, the user can buy a memory card for 4 GB. It will cost it for 15 thousand rubles more expensive. Monoblock is not equipped optical drive. Network interfaces are served by wired and wireless Broadcom, Bluetooth version 4.0.IMAC 27 Review shows that the classic desktop PC is presented before the user.

Retina 5K MK462GU / A

On the Internet reviews from consumers positive. High computer performance affects users of creative specialties, like designers, photographers and edges. A large display with high resolution transmits images clearly and naturally. For those who work with the image, this monoblock is just a find. Users are available for 5K: Retina 5K MK462GU / A, RETINA 5K MK482EN / A and RETINA 5K MK472EN / A . The prices of the devices are about 130, 160 and 140 thousand rubles, respectively. The most affordable equipment is Retina 5K MK462GU / a.

Model Retina 5K MK462RU / A released at the end of 2015, and not in 2016, has the following characteristics: Core i5 quad-core processor , with a working frequency of 3.2 GHz. In accelerated mode, it is accelerated to a frequency of 3.6. It has a screen of retina size 27 inches, the resolution of which is 5120 x 2880 pixels. Wallpaper desktop with such high resolution looks detailed, clearly and colorfully. Processor work supports RAM DDR3 on 8 GB HDD drive Tank 1 TB. Graphic support provides the RADEON R9 M380 video card with 2 GB memory.

The monoblock is not equipped with an optical drive. Wireless communication Provide Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. There are a pair of built-in speakers, a microphone and camera Face Time. Communication provide: two Thunderbolt ports, four USB connector (version 3.0 ), One RJ-45, port for connecting the headset by 3.5 mm, the card reader.

The package includes a monoblock itself, a wireless input panel and a manipulator, documents, pair of stickers, a power cord. The color of the housing is made of aluminum, using Unibody technology. Color - silver. Weighs the product 9.54 kg. The dimensions are: 51.6 cm (height), 65 cm (width) and 20.3 cm (depth).

Order a device in Moscow user can via the online store or coming to an authorized shop in the city. The Moscow region is served in the same stores. Many shops provide delivery services within the country. Whoever previously bought Apple technique, knows that the high price of products is justified by the quality and durability of devices.

Since monitors with a resolution of Ultra HD appeared, it was only a matter of time - when such matrices begin to use Apple. At the same time, it was clear that Ultra HD in the table "Macs" will come in the form of Retina Display. That is, Apple will not release anything like that until the pixel density in commercially available screens will allow the use of HIDPI modes with integer scaling of raster graphics and at the same time have an adequate size of objects on the screen. Apple goes strictly along the way to doubling permissions, as happened at the beginning with the iPhone and iPad, and then with the MacBook Pro with Retina Display (only iPhone 6 Plus has forced to retreasing this rule).

At the time when the 4k-matrices had a diagonal of 28-30 inches, if Apple had discharged to release a similar device, then objects on the screen would be the same physical size as if the monitor had a resolution of 1920x1080. Too big. An interesting candidate was not such a long-time Ultra HD-panel of a 24 inches format. But since a 24 inches can be placed soon with a resolution of 3840x2160, then in 27 - and all 5120x2880. This is just what is needed in order to make a desktop "retin" by saving the former 27-inch iMac format.

⇡ Retina 5K Display: Why?

Recall that it is the program side Retina Display. The position and size of objects in the API Quartz 2D, with which OS X draws user interfaceDefined at points (Points) - spatial coordinates independent of the screen resolution. Once the point had a physical meaning: Point is a typographical point, the smallest unit of measurement in print. The Macintosh 128K screen had an image density of 72 pixels per inch - because the item in computer layout systems is equal to 1/72 inches. Thus, the original image size at points was sized in pixels as 1: 1, and so it was before the appearance of "retinic" screens, although the density of pixels increased significantly since the first Macintosh and the size at the points lost its physical significance.

In HiPdi mode ("Retina"), the size in pixels and points correlate as 2: 1. For this reason, objects on the iMac screen with a 5k-screen are the same size as on the IMAC screen with the WQHD screen (2560x1440), but the OS X interface vector is rendered with double-clarity. For raster images, the software developer should prepare a duplicate in double resolution. Otherwise, the picture is scaled by linear interpolation, which, with a multiple ratio of 2: 1, does not cause excessive blur.

Now it is clear why Apple could not apply the matrix with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels for the desktop in size of 2560x1440 points. Raster graphics of non-adapted applications would be scaled less qualitatively with a non-elected coefficient, and developers would have to create a third copy of graphic resources to avoid this.

It is curious that the pixel density in the new IMAC (218 PPI) differs little from the MacBook Pro WITH RETINA Display 13 (227 PPI) and 15 inches (220 ppi). Thus, objects on all three have about the same size, and the concept of the point in relation to the OS X interface again acquires some physical function.

⇡ Retina 5K Display: How?

The screen itself used in IMAC is also far away. First, the bandwidth of the DISPLAYPORT 1.2 interface in HBR2 mode (17.28 Gbps) is not enough to transmit an image with a resolution of 5120x2880 and the frame rate of 60 Hz (22.18 Gb / s). Two streams with a total rate of 40 Gbps (yes, that is, not 34.56), that is, the "Tile" screen. The matrix is \u200b\u200bmanaging the only timing controller (TCON) Parade Technologies DP665, specially made by Apple orders.

The screen was manufactured by LG and is an IPS matrix "With Oxide TFT technology". Apparently, it means IGZO. Igzo is the name of a semiconductor material consisting of India, Gallium, Zinc and Oxygen. In the LCD panels, thin-film transistors on the layer (backplane), controlling cells of liquid crystals make it.

Infographics Sharp. LG about its implementation IGZO does not apply

Compared to the prevailing amorphous silicon IGZO, has a lot of advantages:

1. Higher current through an open transistor. Hence the possibility of miniaturization of the cell.
2. Reduced leaks on the closed transistor.
3. Unlike amorphous silicon, Igzo is optically transparent, which makes it possible to save on the power of the backlight.

As a result, the 5k screen of the new iMac consumes 30% less energy than the WQHD displays of previous "poppies".

In addition to Igzo, the panel has several other interesting features. Between the signal lines and cells is a layer of organic matter that prevents electromagnetic tips. The color optical filter layer is leveled with UV radiation before applying liquid crystals.

Finally, although the IPS panels do not have special problems with viewing angles, LG (or Apple?) Added a film that somehow corrects the spread of light on areas remote from the center of the screen so that at the viewing point lying on the normal The uniform contrast was observed.

Here is the main thing than the difference between Imac with Retina 5k Display from its predecessors of 2013. The remaining changes are reduced to the planned upgrade of the components, so further we follow the usual procedure for review and testing "Macs".

⇡ Packaging, package

The computer comes in a familiar packaging of prismatic form.

Apple Imac with Retina 5K Display Late 2014: Packaging

In addition to the actual IMAC, the delivery kit includes a power cable, a wireless keyboard and mouse Magic Mouse, as well as paper documentation and a black cloth from microfiber.

Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display Late 2014: Delivery Set

⇡ Appearance, Design

Externally, IMAC has not changed at all compared with the first models in thin unibody-enclosures. Rear panel and "chin" with apple logo Form a monolithic part, assembled by low-temperature welding - Friction-Stir Welding. Instead of melting material with electric arc or flame with this technology, a rotating tool warms and mechanically mixes the metal layers.

At the edges, the body has a thickness of only 5 mm, but towards the center where the hinge rack is attached, the thickness increases. Here are the cooling holes. Air fence is performed through a series of wide holes at the bottom facility of the case.

Communication connectors are grouped on the rear panel: four USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet and two Thunderbolt 2 (through which you can also connect two additional monitors with the DisplayPort interface). A mini-jack connector is provided for connecting external acoustics. The sound is recorded by a built-in double microphone with noise cancellation function. There is a SDXC card reader.

Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display Late 2014: Interior device (photo ifixit)

⇡ Specifications

The motherboard - in general terms - does not differ from the one that is installed in the IMAC of the 2013 sample. Apple has changed the available CPU on the model from the Haswell Refresh line. The younger configuration added 300 MHz, and the older received a 500 MHz processor faster - Core i7-4790k with basic frequency 4 GHz, top in the Haswell line for the LGA1150 connector.

Apple Imac with Retina 5k Display Late 2014: motherboard (Photo ifixit)

The processor can still be replaced, but for this you have to violate the warranty, cutting the layer of foamed glue, which separates the glass front panel from the aluminum housing. Special window gives access to operational memory.

Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display Late 2014: Cassette with RAM modules

After the 27-inch IMAC 2012 and 2013, which were equipped with exclusively by NVIDIA graphics, Apple again turned to AMD. It is proposed a choice between the RADEON R9 M290X and R9 M295X adapters built on the GPU Pitcairn and Tonga, respectively. It is likely that, as in Mac Pro, the choice is dictated by the excellent performance of AMD chips in the settlement tasks. About playing with mobile graphics in any demanding games on a 5k screen, nothing to think.

The drive in the basic configuration of the IMAC - Fusion Drive with a stringent disk of 1 TB and 128 GB SSD. We recently released a detailed review with the testing of this "hybrid". Options with HDD are available on 3 TB, as well as extremely solid-state drives with a volume of 256, 512 and 1024 GB.

Wireless network - an IEEE 802.11ac adapter with three spatial flows, providing a capacity of 1300 Mbps on a PHY-level.

⇡ Temperature, clock frequencies

Over the frequencies and heating of the components, we followed Windows - due to the fact that there is a proven software for this.

The CPU temperature in the inaction is in the limits of 41-44 ° C. In the LinPAK test, the OCCT Perestroika utilities chip is warmed up to 94 ° C, the frequency is stabilized at 3691 MHz. Noise from the cooling system is almost not heard from the front.

In the FURMARK test, the GPU frequency switches between the positions 910 and 975 MHz at a graphical core temperature of 99 ° C. Unlike the CPU test, in this case the noise of the cooler is very not even noticeable - which is not listening to.

The cooling system is not bad with the simultaneous load from the CPU and GPU in OCCT and FURMARK. The GPU frequency has stabilized at 910 MHz, the temperature is 98 ° C. The CPU frequency varies in the range of 3093-3492 MHz at a temperature of 95 ° C.

Note that FurMark creates a "pathological load" on the GPU, which in real applications does not occur. When working in resource-intensive applications and games there were neither such heating or noise.